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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7

Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FP7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FP7 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 13 months later than the FP7 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-12 grades vs the FP7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Panasonic FP7

 SZ-12 FP7 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012January 2011Fresher by 13 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Olympus SZ-12

 FP7 SZ-12 
Display dimensions3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP7

 SZ-12 FP7 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FP7 has dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FP7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the FP7.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and FP7 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over specs. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and FP7.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic FP7 to deliver greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
Portrait photography with Panasonic FP7
34
resolution is good (14MP)
comes with face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Street photography factors
Panasonic FP7 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
60
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average (147 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography features
Panasonic FP7 Sports photography features
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
great battery life (240 CIPA)
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
Panasonic FP7 Travel photography details
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (220 shots)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
63
great battery life (240 per charge)
provides focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (147 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FP7 Landscape photography factors
40
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery life (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
41
bigger than average screen (3.5 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FP7 as a Vlogging camera
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
29
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than average (147 grams)
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Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-12 and Panasonic FP7
 Olympus SZ-12Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-01-10 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lbs) 147 gr (0.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images 240 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $227